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Accelerometry Insights Into Gym-Based Plyometric Exercises; Evaluating Metrics, Reliability, and Sensor Placement.
Isabel McGillivray1,2, Alistair Murphy2, Machar Reid2
1School of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; and.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|April 7, 2026
Summary
Sensor placement impacts accelerometry data for gym-based plyometrics. PlayerLoad metrics show reliability across placements, unlike peak upward acceleration, suggesting their utility for monitoring training load.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Quantifying training load is crucial for athletic performance.
- Traditional accelerometry struggles to capture vertical demands of gym-based plyometrics.
- Understanding sensor placement effects is key for accurate load monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate triaxial accelerometry for assessing gym-based plyometric training load.
- Examine the influence of sensor placement on key metrics.
- Evaluate the reliability of accelerometry-derived measures.
Main Methods:
- Ten elite youth tennis players performed a standardized plyometric session twice.
- Inertial measurement units (IMUs) were worn at thoracic spine, lumbar spine, left ankle, and right ankle.
- Collected metrics included peak upward acceleration (PUpAcc) and PlayerLoad (1DPL-up, 2DPL, 3DPL).
Main Results:
- Ankle sensors yielded significantly higher acceleration than spinal placements.
- PlayerLoad metrics demonstrated strong agreement across sensor locations (r=0.50-0.96).
- Peak upward acceleration showed lower associations (r=0.01-0.57) across placements.
- Moderate to good reliability (ICC=0.50-0.84) was observed, favoring PlayerLoad metrics.
Conclusions:
- Sensor placement significantly influences accelerometry-derived plyometric measures.
- PlayerLoad metrics offer inter-sensor agreement and reliability for monitoring gym-based plyometrics.
- Thoracic sensors may underestimate lower-limb loading; further research on PUpAcc is warranted.
